BETHLEHEM, PA --- Third seed The Catholic University of America earned a 2-0 win over second seeded Susquehanna University in the final elimination game of the 2011 Landmark Conference Championship Tournament hosted by Moravian College at Blue & Grey Field Saturday.
With the victory, the Cardinals advance to the championship round to face the top seeded Greyhounds at 1:15 p.m.
Catholic would score the only two runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Junior second baseman Samantha Daubman (Plainedge, NY/Plainedge HS) singled with two outs and sophomore third baseman Taylor Stockinger (Olney, MD/Sherwood HS) followed with a single to move Daubman to third base. Sophomore outfielder Mel Galella (South Edison, NJ/Bishop George Ahr HS) then connected on an RBI single to score Daubman. Stockinger crossed the plate on a muffed throw on the play.
The Cardinals had a 4-3 edge in hits in the contest. Senior Brennan Balfour (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth HS) was two-for-two for Susquehanna.
Freshman Kerri Apicella (Oyster Bay, NY/Oyster Bay HS) earned the win for Catholic, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Senior Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield HS) took the loss for the Crusaders, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters.